Distributing-chute for mail-bags.



G. A. GASMAN & F. G. MURRAY.

DISTRIBUTING CHUTE FOR MAIL BAGS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 3, 1912.

1,051,368, Patented Jan.21,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. A. GASMAN 61; F; G. MURRAY.

DISTRIBUTING OHU'IE FOR MAIL BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED JUN113,1912. 1 5 I ,86 l. Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

3 EHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. A. GASMAN & F. G. MURRAY.

DISTRIBUTING CHUTE FOR MAI L BAGS.

AYPLIGATION FILED JUNE 3, 1912.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

eno'nen A. GASMAN' Ann mam: e. MURRAY, or (intense, 1LLiNoIs,Assmnons TOI THE B. r. commas company, A conroanrxon or rumors.

msr nrnurme-cnurn roa MAIL-BAGS.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 3, 1912. Serial no, 701,438.

To all whom it ma y concern:

Be it knowrit at we, GEORGE A. GASMAN and FRANK G. MURRAY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois-have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDistributing-Chutes for Mail- Bags, of which the followin is adescription, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which corresponding numerals of referencein the different figures indicate like parts.

. The object of our invention is to provide a simple and effectiveclassifying device to enable articles tov be separated, classified anddelivered into separate parcels or packages for whatever purpose may befound desirable.

In theexample illustrated our invention has especial reference to theseparation, classification and delivery into bags of mailmatter, such,for example, as newspapers, packages and parcels exclusive of firstclassmatter.

' To this end, our invention consists in providing a plurality oflongitudinally movable receptacles 0 n at their upper ends, saidreceptacles being supported in a common frame in operative proximity toa downwardly directed chute, each of said receptacles having a normallyclosed delivery opening adapted to communicate with said chute when saidreceptacles are 'in an abnormal position, means for holding saidreceptacles in a normal position and for independently moving them intoan abnormal or discharging position, all of which is hereinafter moreparticularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a side elevation of a device embodying thefeatures of the invention, Fig. 2, is a front elevation thereof showinga number of tiers of receptacles, Fig. 3, is an enlarged longitudinalsectional view taken upon. the line 3, Fi 4, viewed in the direction ofthe arrow t ere shown, Fig. 4, is a sectional view in plan, taken uponthe line 44, Fig. 3, Fig. 5, is a sectional View, taken uponthe line 5,Fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown, and Fig. 6, isan enlarged side view in detail showing a portion of one of the shiftingbails with bufiing and locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents generally the main portion of aframework u on the forward part of which is a raised p atform 3, for theuse of the operators who stand in front of the hopper. A super-structureis mounted above the main frame having forward upright members 4,attached to horizontal cross-bars 5, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, which are inturn attached through intervening members as shown to rearwardlyinclined side-bars 6. Vertical frame members 7, which are rigidlyattached to the rear of the main frame, form a part of saidsuperstructure. The members 4 and 7 are connected by means of inclinedangle-bars or frame-members 8, which are substantially parallel with theframe-members 6. Sheetmetal plates 9 forming floors or false-bot toms,for the purpose hereinafter stated, are riveted to the flanges of themembers 8, extending from end to end thereof as more clearly shown inFigs. 3 and 5. Elongated movable receptacles 10, which are .rectangularin cross-section, are loosely fitted in the framework one above theother, so that by preference they may form a plurality or series oftiers of receptacles as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with their open endspresented toward the hopper 2. The length of said receptaclescorresponds to that of the floors or false bottoms 9, upon which theyare adapted to slide longitudinally, and each is provided with a bottom11, which is extended downwardly throughout a portion only of its lengthso as to provide for a discharge opening at the bottom when saidreceptacle is moved into an abnormal or discharging position; saidopening being extended rearwardly a predetermined distance correspondingsubstantially to the longitudinal movement of said receptacle when movedfor the purpose of discharging it. When the receptacle is in normalposition, said opening is intended to be closed by the floor 9, whichforms a temporary bottom therefor. The lower end of each receptacle isrounded or semi-cylindrical as shown at 12, and the end portion isvertical as represented in Fig. 3.

Rigidly attached to and extending rearwardly from the uprights 7, is asubstantially vertical casing or wall forming a chute generallydesignated by 13, which is open at the bottom, and is provided with arounded or :circular and slightly tapered discharge portion 14, at thelower end, having a head 15, thereon to serve as a means which areloosely fitted for attaching an ordinary mail-bag thereto as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said chute is also open laterally toward saidreceptacle from the top of the upper to the bottom of the lowermostreceptacle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to permit said receptacles toslide into it;

J ointedly attached at 16, to the side of each receptacle is abail 17,which is of sufiicient length to extend to the rear of the chute 13,around which it is bent in the manner shown. All the bails of a giventier of receptacles are rearwardly inclined and dis osed outside of andadjacent to. the uprig ts 7. Each bail is provided with two notches 18,formed in the under side of each of the parallel -members thereof and soplaced that when the receptacle is n its normal position as shown inFig. 1, said notches will engage with detents 19, upon the sides of saiduprights and hold said receptacle in place. Each of said receptacles isadapted to slide downwardly when released, so that the lower endwillenter and fit within the rounded chute; but in order to avoidunnecessary impact and noise as well as to proT duce a slight reboundinaction to overcome the inertia of the mai -matter therein, we refer toprovide spring-buffers therefor. liiveted to the uprights 7, are lugs20, better shown in Fig. 6, having) bores therein into uifer-pins 21,having heads 22, at the upper ends, between which and said In areinterposed coiled springs 23. Shoulfirs 24, are formed upon the bails17, in osition to engage with the heads of said bu er-pins when thereceptacle reaches its extreme abnormal position, so as to cushion itsdownward movement.

There may be as many receptacles 10, in a given tier for a given chuteas may be deemed necessary to conform to varying con-.

- ditions. 'In ordinary practice we would employ a plurality of tiers,preferably about seven, with about four receptacles in 'each tier; eachreceptacle having the capacity of an ordinary mail-bag. Each receptacleis marked upon the front as shown in Fig. 2, with the name of the State,city, place or route for which the mail to be placed therein isdestined. The mail-pieces, such as newspapers or packages of apredetermined class, are dumped into the hopper 2 and the attendant orattendants, standing upon the platform 3, throw the pieces as they are,

picked up into the several receptacles before them according to theirrespective destinations. Mail-bags vare tied upon the several chutes asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and whenever a given receptacle isfilled an attendant grasps the bail 17, which holds that receptacle andlifts it until the notches 18, are released from the catch. Thereceptacle then slides down as shown in Fig. 3, when the contents aredischarged through the chute into the 'mail-bag. The striking of theshoulders 24, against the buffersprings, aids in causing any mail-pieceswhich may tend to stick in the receptacle, to be discharged. Immediatelyupon emptying the receptacle, the attendant grasps the ball 17 andpushes the receptacle back to its normal position where it is held bythe detents 19, which engage the notches 18.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the flooring or false bottom 9in thecasing acts as a temporary bottom to close the discharge openinin-the receptacle whilethe latteris in position to be filled and thateach receptacle may be discharged independently of its fellows. Theadvantage of this feature is that the work of distribution need not beinterruptedto permit the discharge of any given receptacle.

Extending forwardly and downwardly from the bottom of the receptacle tothe top of the platform 3, is an inclosed apron 25, upon whichmisdirected mail-pieces may fall so that they maybe caused to slide downupon the platform to be recovered by the attendants.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising in combination a downwarddischarge chute, a plurality of movable receptaclescommon to said chute,but normally out of communication therewith and means for independentlymoving said receptacles into discharging communication therewith.

2. A device of the class described in which is combined .a. downwardlydirected discharge chute, a lurality of downwardly inclined longitud icommon to said chute, but normally out of communication therewith andmeans for independently moving said receptacles into dischargingcommunication therewith.

3. A device of the class described, in which is combined a downwardlydirected discharge chute, a plurality of downwardly inclinedlongitudinally movable receptacles common to said chute, each of saidreceptacles being open at its upper end and having a discharge openingadapted when said re 'ceptacle is in an abnormal position to comnallymovable receptacleswhen said receptacle is in an abnormal position tocommunicate with said chute, means for holding each of said receptaclesin a normal position, means for closing said discharge opening whensaidreceptacle is in normal position and means for moving saidreceptacle into a discharging position.

5. A device of the class described, in which is combined a plurality oflongitudinally movable receptacles located one above the other, each ofsaid receptacles being open at one end for the deposit therein ofarticles, said receptacles having normally closeddischarge openingsarranged when 'in an abnormal position to communicate with a dischargechute, a discharge chute common to all of said receptacles, means formoving said receptacles into and out of communication with said chuteand means for separately locking each of said receptacles in a normalposition.

6. A device of the class described in which is combined a plurality ofinclined longitudinally movable receptacles open at their upper ends,said receptacles being supported in a stationary frame and each havingan opening in the bottom thereof extending rearwardly from the lowermostend, a stationary inclined shelf or floor in said frame under eachreceptacle to form a temporary false bottom beneath said opening whensaid receptacle is in a normal position and means for locking saidreceptacles in normal positions.

7. A device of the class described, comprising an inclined slidablereceptacle open at its upper end and having an opening in the bottomnear its lower end, a stationary inclined shelf to'form a temporarybottom beneath said opening when in a normal position, an extensioncasing forming a bagholding chute into which said receptacle may bedischarged when in an abnormal position, means for locking saidreceptacle in a normal position and means for releasing the same.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a plurality of inclinedlongitudinally movable receptacles each open at its upper end and havinga discharge opening in the bottom, a common discharge chute arranged toreceive said receptacles when moved into -communication therewith fordischarge, stationary inclined floors extend ing backwardly from theentrance of said chute beneath each of said receptacles to formfalsebottoms for normally closing the discharge openings therein andseparately controlled means for holding each of said receptacles in anormal position.

9. A device of the class described in which is combined a plurality'ofadjacent tiers of movable receptacles, each receptacle having receivingand discharge openings, a discharge-chute common to the receptacles ofeach tier but normally out of communication therewith and means forindependently moving any receptacle of any tier'into dischargingcommunication with the chute for that ti'er.

10. A device of the class described in which is combined a downwardlydirected discharge chute, a plurality of downwardly inclinedlongitudinally movable receptacles common to said chute, each of saidreceptacles being open at its upper end and having a discharge openingadapted when said receptacle is in an abnormal position to communicatewith said chute, said receptacles being supported in a common frame, aseparatebail connected with each of said receptacles and extending tothe rear of said chute for shifting said receptacle from a receiving toa discharging position and means for causing said bail to engage with astationary stop for holding said receptacle in a normal position.

11. A device of the class described in which is combined a dischargechute, a plurality of downwardly inclined, longitudinally movablereceptacles common to said chute but normally out of communicationtherewith, means for independently moving said receptacles intodischarging positions, and means for cushioning the impact of saidreceptacles in their downwardly inclined movement.

12. The combination with a downward discharge chute, a plurality ofdownwardly inclined longitudinally movable receptacles common to saidchute, each of said receptacles being open at its upper end and having adischarge opening adapted when said receptacle is in an abnormalposition to communicate with said chute, a rearwardly extended bailconnected with each of said rebringing said chute and one'of saidreceptacles into operative communication with each other to dischargethe contents of the receptacle so brought into communication.

In testimony whereof, we have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this first day pf June 1912.

GEORGE A. GASMAN. FRANK e. MURRAY.

Witnesses:

DAVID H. FLETGHER, JENNIE L. FIsKE.

